Too Old to Cut the Mustard

 I'm doing this entry especially for one of my Arkansas friends.  She asked in a comment what the saying "too old to cut the mustard" means.  

I think the lyrics of a song from 1951 say it all.  The last verse was my father's favorite one.

Too Old To Cut the Mustard, sung by Earnest Tubb and Red Foley

Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore

When I was young, I had a lotta pep
I could get around, didn't need no help
But now you're old and a gettin' gray
The people all look at you and say

Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore

I used to, could jump just like a deer
But now you need a new landing gear
I used to, could jump a picket fence
But now you're lucky if you jump an inch

Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore

When I was young, I had an automobile
Now they push you around in a chair with wheels
I had to fight the gals off with a stick
But now they say he makes me sick

Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore

When I was young and in my prime
The gals all used to stand in line
But now they go the other way
And as they leave, I hear them say

Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore

He's too old to cut the mustard anymore

If you can stand to read the corny lyrics , perhaps you're brave enough to listen to the song.

<